Should I start with LeetCode or HackerRank?

Choosing between LeetCode and HackerRank for starting your coding interview preparation depends on a few factors, including your current skill level, your specific goals, and the types of companies you're aiming to interview with. Both platforms offer a wealth of problems designed to improve your coding skills, but they have some differences in focus and features. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:

LeetCode

Strengths:

• Interview Focus: LeetCode is highly focused on preparing users for coding interviews at top tech companies. The problems tend to be more aligned with the types and difficulties of questions asked in interviews at companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft.
• Problem Quality and Variety: LeetCode offers a wide range of problems covering all the fundamental computer science topics such as data structures, algorithms, and system design. The problems are well-crafted and often come with multiple solutions and detailed explanations.
• Community and Discussions: Each problem has a discussion board where users share different solutions and approaches. This can be incredibly valuable for learning different ways to tackle the same problem.
• Mock Interviews and Contests: Regular coding contests and the availability of mock interviews help simulate the interview environment, providing practice under timed conditions.

Considerations:

• LeetCode’s user interface is straightforward and utilitarian, focusing primarily on the problems rather than an integrated learning experience.
• Some users find the problems on LeetCode to be more challenging, which could be a factor if you are just beginning with coding practice.

HackerRank

Strengths:

• Learning Structure: HackerRank offers a more structured learning path compared to LeetCode. It provides a good starting point for beginners with its “30 Days of Code” challenge, which is designed to help new programmers learn and practice at a manageable pace.
• Wide Range of Domains: Apart from interview preparation, HackerRank covers a broader range of domains such as artificial intelligence, databases, security, and more, making it useful for learning and practicing a wide array of computing concepts.
• Company-Specific Challenges: HackerRank is used by companies to conduct coding challenges and competitions, which can sometimes lead directly to job opportunities.
• User Interface: HackerRank has a more engaging user interface and provides instant feedback on submissions, which can be encouraging for beginners.

Considerations:

• While HackerRank is excellent for beginners and offers a variety of challenges, some users feel that its problems are not as reflective of the actual questions asked in high-level tech company interviews as those on LeetCode.

Which Should You Choose?

• Beginner-Friendly: If you are new to coding or looking for more structured learning and gradual progression, start with HackerRank or Design Gurus. Their educational approach and interactive challenges make it easier to start from scratch.
• Focused Interview Preparation: If your main goal is to prepare for technical interviews at top tech companies, LeetCode might be the better choice. It offers a greater volume of interview-centric problems and deeper community insights into tackling complex interview questions. You can also take a look at company specific top coding questions.

Combining Both

Many successful candidates use both platforms in conjunction: starting with HackerRank to build a solid foundation and switching to LeetCode for more intensive interview preparation. This strategy allows you to benefit from the structured learning and broad topic coverage of HackerRank and the interview-specific practice that LeetCode offers.

Ultimately, the best platform is the one that keeps you engaged and consistently learning. You might try both and see which one better suits your learning style and preparation needs.